Dubai International Airport has issued updated advice for travellers stranded in the UAE amid missile attacks from Iran. The airport urged people not to travel unless they have been specifically contacted by their airline to confirm their flight is still going ahead; otherwise, they will be turned away. It said the decision on whether to cancel a flight was down to the airline, and so the latest updates will be on their apps and websites.
A handful of flights are operating on Tuesday to bring Brits back home, though the majority remain cancelled. Emirates plans to operate two flights to Heathrow and one each to Gatwick and Manchester. Etihad Airways has scheduled one UK flight on Tuesday, from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow. Qatar Airways – which usually serves Heathrow and Gatwick from Qatar – said its operations remain suspended because of the closure of Qatari airspace. British Airways also cancelled its timetabled flights to Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha and Dubai on Tuesday.
Multiple Dubai residents have taken to social media saying they heard a huge blast in Dubai again. The UAE's Ministry of Defence said the country's air defences intercepted 12 ballistic missiles and 123 drones on Tuesday. One missile landed, but no one was injured.
British Airways has announced it will operate flights from Muscat, Oman, departing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The airline said: “We currently remain unable to operate flights from destinations including Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv. We’re continuing to do everything we can to support customers and colleagues in the region, and are in regular contact with them. We’re aware that a number of our customers are now in Oman, where the airspace is currently open. Working with the relevant authorities, we’ve been able to schedule flights from Muscat to London, departing on 5, 6, 7 March. Existing customers who are in Oman can let us know they wish to travel on these flights via a dedicated phone line: +44 203 467 3854.”
A Government charter flight will take off from Muscat, Oman, “in the coming days”, the Foreign Secretary has said. Yvette Cooper told the Commons that 130,000 British nationals have now registered their presence with the Foreign Office, allowing them to receive updates from the Government as the situation in the Middle East unfolds. She told MPs: “Members will know that in many of these countries, the airspace is still closed, but I am in close contact with my counterparts across the region, speaking again yesterday with the UAE on the excellent support that they are providing and some of the steps that they are taking.”
The UAE has said it has scheduled more than 80 flights, transporting over 27,000 passengers stuck in the country. Consumer group Which? advised: “If you are [currently] trying to get home, don't accept a refund. This ends the airlines duty of care and you will be liable for food and hotel costs.”
